<HTML>In reply to Zvi Grumet's piece, there is no doubt that a total change in
Talmud curriculum is needed, but not because the students are not
qualified, but because the teachers are not trained. Methodology is not
taught in Yeshivot, how can those trained to teach Talmud in these
Yeshivot possibly come to a skills-based approach if they never learned
that way themselves? Furthermore, the problem cannot be resolved by
merely seeing skills as vocabulary, phrases and common concepts. The
basic methodological problems are based in the literary origins and
editing of the material in various ways, causing a Talmudic sugya to
appear as complex and "disorderly" as it does, when in reality the order
and editing is remarkably well thought out and purposeful in every
detail. See my article in Religious Education, Winter 1997 for a
suggested approach.
Pinchas Hayman</HTML>
